For Immediate Release                                                             Contact:

February 5, 2014                                                                      Nathan Diament, 202-513-6484

Today, the leaderships of the Rabbinical Council of America, the largest Orthodox Jewish rabbinical organization in the United States, and the Orthodox Union, the largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization in the United States, issued the following statement:

“It has been reported that a group of rabbis in Israel calling themselves ‘The Committee to Save the Land and People of Israel’ has issued a letter denouncing Secretary of State John Kerry and his Israeli-Palestinian peace process efforts. The reports indicate that in the letter these rabbis engaged in extreme and offensive rhetoric, and seem to arrogate to themselves unusual insight into the desires of the Almighty.  The letter also claims these rabbis represent hundreds of other rabbis around the world.

“We, the leadership of the RCA and the OU, repudiate this letter and the rhetoric they have deployed. While the people of Israel and Jews around the world may properly possess serious concerns about proposals Secretary Kerry is putting forth, such concerns must only be expressed with civility and on the substance of the issues, not degenerating into personal venom and threats.

“We have personally engaged in discussions about these matters with Secretary Kerry and other Obama Administration officials, and while we may disagree with their views we have found no reason to question their intentions in pursuing this effort–which are to, as they see it, support the long term security and welfare of Israel, as well as the United States.

“The letter of the Committee to Save the Land and People of Israel may represent the views of its signators; it does not represent ours.”

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